The area is also being termed as Madumalai Tiger Reserve due to the presence of around 48 tigers in the Nilgiri Reserve across which tigers are free to roam. In April 2007, the Tamil Nadu state government declared Mudumalai as a Tiger Reserve, under the section 38V of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, in an effort to conserve the country's dwindling Tiger populations. Afterward, about 350 families living in the core area have been evicted from the park bringing 1 million rupee ($20,800) as compensation. Those residing in the 5 km of buffer area around the park were in fear that they too will be evicted but as a matter of pleasure nobody were dislodged from the buffer zone. In fact, some people in this zone were kept involved in the project as trackers and guides to enhance their income through ecotourism.